Clipboard



Sept. 13, 1966 M. E. RICKE 3,272,206

CLIPBOARD Original Filed Sept. 10. 1962 JNVENTOR. MAURINE E. RICKE BY 54AM ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,272,206 CUPBOARD Maurine E. Ricke, 153 Smith Road, Alamo Oaks, Danville, Calif. Continuation of application Ser. No. 222,593, Sept. 10, 1962. This application May 19, 1965, Ser. No. 457,096 Claims. (Cl. 129-37) This application is a continuation of my application Serial No. 222,593, filed September 10, 1962, and now abandoned.

This invention relates generally to devices for supporting note paper, charts, etc., for writing thereon, and more particularly is directed to a clipboard for removably clamping sheets of paper to a base support.

Clipboards as are well known in the art have found widespread use in schools, business, industry, and numerous other fields. One form of clipboard that is extensively used, for example, in hospitals, generally includes a metal base and a metal cover hinged to the base, the cover being adapted to swing back and serve as a lever for opening the clamping portion of the device. Such clipboards serve to retain various charts, records, memoranda, and the like, which are associated with each patient in a hospital, and it is common that a relatively large number of papers must be retained in a single clipboard. Inasmuch as the springs used with a hospital clipboard are quite strong, it is often difficult for one person to keep the clamp opened for ready withdrawal or insertion of papers, particularly when a thick stack of sheets is already retained in the device.

Accordingly, it is a main object of the present invention to provide a novel and improved clipboard adapted to retain a relatively large stack of papers which may be easily inserted in or Withdrawn from the device.

Another object of the invention is to provide a clipboard adapted to have its clamping means retained in an open position while papers are being inserted or withdrawn therefrom.

A further object of the invention is to provide a clipboard which may be selectively retained in an opened clamp position, yet which automatically clamps down when the cover to the clipboard is closed.

Still another object of the invention is to provide means for selectively retaining a clipboard in an open position, and which means also serve to align and retain the paper on the clipboard prior to being clamped thereto.

The invention possesses other objects and features of advantage, some of which, with the foregoing, will be set forth in the following description of the preferred form of the invention which is illustrated in the drawing accompanying and forming part of the specification. It is to be understood, however, that variations in the showing made by the said drawing and description may be adapted within the scope of the invention as set forth in the claims.

FIGURE 1 is a side view of a clipboard embodying the features of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a plan view of the structure shown in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a cross sectional view taken along the plane 33 in FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a view similar to FIGURE 1, but with the clipboard in its opened position;

FIGURE 5 is a perspective view of the structure as shown in FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 6 is a cross sectional view taken along the plane 66 in FIGURE 5;

FIGURE 7 is a view similar to FIGURE 6, but with the clipboard in its closed position;

FIGURE 8 shows a modified form of the means used to selectively retain the instant clipboard in an opened position.

Referring now to the drawing, there is shown a clipboard 11 of the type generally used in hospitals to retain a patients charts, records, doctors notations, etc. The clipboard broadly includes a base support 12 for retaining a plurality of sheets 13, and a hinged cover 14 adapted to overlie the sheets 13 in spaced relationship to the base 12. As is conventional with clipboards of this type, a clamp member 16 is pivotally mounted adjacent one end of the base 12 by means of a hinge pin 17 and hinge loops 18 provided on the base and clamp members. Coil spring means 19 resiliently urge the clamping portion 21 of the member 16 towards the base into clamping relationship therewith. A pair of knobs 22 or the like are usually provided as means for retaining the clipboard in a rack for storage while not in use.

In using a conventional clipboard of this type, the cover 14 is pivoted back into an open position abutting the clamp member 16 to provide access to the sheets 13. Further pivoting of the cover acts as a lever arm to spread the clamping portion 21 apart from the base for insertion or withdrawal of sheets. Because strong spring are generally used with these clipboards, opening the clamp usually requires two hands, one grasping the base and the other for pivoting back the cover. Manipulation of the sheets may be accomplished by using the same hand that is simultaneously holding down the base. Alternatively, one may place the forearm and hand of one arm over both the base and open cover to keep the clamp open, while the other hand is used to handle the sheets. Regardless of which of the foregoing procedures is used, these clipboards have been found to be relatively awkward, with the difficulty increasing as the papers accumulate.

Accordingly, as a main feature of my invention, I have provided a cam member 23 which is selectively engageable between the clamp member and the base to restrict the operation of the clamp member. After the clamp is opened in the usual manner, the cam member is moved into'its operative position thereby restraining the clamp from closing, and ready insertion or withdrawal of sheets from the clipboard is afforded.

In more detail, there are preferably two cam members 23 each disposed adjacent one side of a tubular hinge pin 24, the latter pivotally joining the cover 14 and clamp member 16 by means of hinge loops 26 provided thereon. A shaft 27 extends axially through the pin 24 with the cam members rigidly secured adjacent the ends of the shaft. Rotation of one cam member rotates the shaft therewith and thus the other cam member is caused to move simultaneously. It will be appreciated that the shear forces from the hinge loops 26 bear only against the hinge pin 24, and the shaft 27 is free to rotate without any shear forces thereon.

In FIGURE 1 the instant clipboard is shown with the clamp and cover in closed position. In this situation the earns 23 are inoperative and the clamp member is unrestrained in clamping the sheets 13 against the base 12. As noted above, the clamp is opened by pivoting back the cover 14 as is shown in FIGURES 4 and 5. Once the clamp is opened one of the cam members may be manually rotated into the operative position shown in FIG- URES 4 and 5, it being noted that movement of one cam member moves the other cam member correspondingly by means of the shaft 27. When operatively engaged, the came members serve to restrict the clamp from closing, and hence both hands are available to move the sheets into or out of the clipboard.

In the structure so far described, it is necessary to manually rotate one of the cam members into inoperative position in order that the clamp be released for again engaging the sheets. While such arrangement is satisfactory, it has been found that in haste a person may sometimes close the cover 14 without remembering first to disengage the cam members. Thus when the clipboard is picked up the sheets are free to fall out since the clamp itself has not yet been closed.

As another important feature of my invention I have provided means for automatically disengaging the cam members whenever the cover 14 is pivoted into its closed position. Consequently, when the clipboard cover is closed it is assured that the clamp is unrestrained and is retaining the sheets. As regards the preferred structure embodying this feature of the invention reference is made to FIGURES 5, 6 and 7 wherein is shown an aperture 28 in the tubular hinge pin 24. Preferably, the aperture 28 is positioned intermediate two of the hinge loops 26 which are suitably spaced to expose the aperture. A release pin 29 is rigidly secured to the shaft 27 and extends radially therefrom through the aperture 28 for disposition in the path of the inner edge 31 of the cover 14. The release pin is angularly positioned relative to the cam members 23 so that it extends upwardly -at an angle relative to the plane of the base 12, as is shown in FIG- URES and 6, when the cams are in their operative position. When the cover 14 is closed, the edge 31 thereof engages the release pin and rotates it to the position shown in FIGURE 7. Thus, as the release pin rotates the shaft 27, the cam members are correspondingly returned to their inoperative position as shown in FIG- URE 1.

Another feature of my invention relates to the cam members as means for aligning and retaining sheets of paper on the clipboard when it is being held open. More particularly, when the clamp is in open position as shown in FIGURE 5, the eam members 23 provide guides adjacent the sides of the clipboard. Thus, the cam members aid in positioning the sheets underneath the clamp and also prevent the sheets from sliding sideways off of the clipboard while the clamp is open.

A modified form of the cam means is shown in FIG- URE 8, wherein is provided a cam member 32 having a generally continuous arcuate surface. A knurled edge 33 is preferably provided with the member 32 to facilitate rotation thereof for movement into operative position.

Another feature of the instant device relates to the arcuate shape of the clamp member 16, as shown for example in the cross-sectional side view of FIGURE 3. By this arcuate configuration the clamping portion 21 is adapted to exert a uniform positive bearing force regardless of the thickness of the stack of sheets being retained.

From the foregoing it is apparent that the present invention provides ready means for withdrawing or inserting sheets into a clipboard of the type described, and has eliminated the awkward manipulations required with previous devices.

What is claimed is:

1. A clipboard of the character described comprising, in combination, a base, a clamp member pivotally secured to said base and having a clamping portion movable from and toward said base, means resiliently urging said clamping portion towards said base into clamping relationship therewith, hinge means pivotally securing a cover to said clamp member and adapting said cover for movement into a closed position overlying said base in generally parallel spaced relationship thereto, said cover being pivot-ally movable into engagement with the upper surface of said clamp member for moving it away from said base, said hinge means including a tubular hinge pin extending through hinge loops provided on said clamp member and said cover, a shaft disposed through said hinge pin and rotatable therein, and a pair of spaced cam members secured to said shaft adjacent each side of said clamp member and movable with said shaft to engage said base and retain said clamping portion at a predetermined spacing from said base.

2. A device as described in claim 1 further defined by said hinge pin having an aperture in the wall thereof, and release means including a release pin extending transversely from said shaft through said aperture and being movable with said shaft responsive to movement of said cam member, said release pin being adapted to engage said cover when same is moved into its closed position and rotate said shaft to disengage said cam member from operative relation with said base.

3. A clipboard including a generally rectangular planar base member, a substantially rigid clamp member having one edge portion thereof positioned adjacent an end of said base member and a downturned second edge portion overlying said base member along a line adjacent and parallel to said end, said clamp member extending to substantially immediately adjacent the opposed edges of said base member, means pivotally connecting said one edge portion of said clamp member to said end of the base member whereby said second edge portion may be selectively moved from and towards said base member, resilient means normally urging said second edge portion toward said base member so as to clamp papers positioned on said base member, a substantially rigid cover member having opposed edges generally conterminous with the edges of said base member and an upper end positioned adjacent said second edge portion of said clamp member, means pivotally connecting said upper end of the cover to said second edge of the clamp whereby the cover may be moved from a first closed position overlying said base member in generally parallel relation thereto to an open position, cam means positioned at each end of clamp member for selectively retaining the latter in open position, and means operatively connecting said cam means with said cover whereby closing of the latter with the clamp in an open position will effect a release of said cam means and a return of said clamp to its closed and clamping position, said cam means extending upwardly from said base member to provide a lateral guide for papers inserted under said clamp when the latter is in open position.

4. A clipboard as set forth in claim 3 in which said means pivotally connecting said clamp to said cover includes a hinge pin extending through alternate hinge loops provided on the clamp member and cover respectively, and in which said cam means operates to maintain said hinge pin in parallel spaced relation to the base member to thereby retain the clamp member in open position.

5. A clipboard including a generally rectangular planar base member, a substantially rigid clamp member having one edge portion thereof positioned adjacent an end of said base member and a downturned second edge portion overlying said base member along a line adjacent and parallel to said end, said clamp member extending to substantially immediately adjacent the opposed edges of said base member, means pivotally connecting said one edge portion of said clamp member to said end of the base member whereby said second edge portion may be selectively moved from and towards said base member, resilient means normally urging said second edge portion toward said base member so as to clamp papers positioned on said base member, a substantially rigid cover member having opposed edges generally conterminous with the edges of said base member and an upper end positioned adjacent said second edge portion of said clamp member, means pivotally connecting said upper end of the cover to said second edge of the clamp whereby the cover may be moved from a first closed position overlying said base member in generally parallel relation thereto to an open position, cam means positioned at each end of said clamp member for selectively retaining the latter in open position, said means pivotally connecting 5 6 said clamp to said cover includes a hinge pin extending References Cited by the Examiner through alternate hinge loops provided on the clamp UNITED STATES PATENTS member and cover respectively, said cam means being secEred to said hinge pin whereby said cam means oper- %?2 3 01165 ates to maintain said hinge pin in parallel spaced relation 5 1 2 12 41927 fifi gg -g' to the base member to thereby retain the clamp member in open position, and means openatively connecting said ga 33:2? 0am means with said cover whereby the closing of the 2566465 9/1951 g latter With the clamp in an open position will eifect a i 41 1/1956 X release of said cam means and a return of said clamp to its 10 closed and clam-ping position. JEROME SCHNALL, Primary Examiner. 

3. A CLIPBOARD INCLUDING A GENERALLY RECTANGULAR PLANAR BASE MEMBER, A SUBSTANTIALLY RIGID CLAMP MEMBER HAVING ONE EDGE PORTION THEREOF POSITIONED ADJACENT AN END OF SAID BASE MEMBER AND A DOWNTURNED SECOND EDGE PORTION OVERLYING SAID BASE MEMBER ALONG A LINE ADJACENT AND PARALLEL TO SAID END, SAID CLAMP MEMBER EXTENDING TO SUBSTANTIALLY IMMEDIATELY ADJACENT THE OPPOSED EDGES OF SAID BASE MEMBER, MEANS PIVOTALLY CONNECTING SAID ONE EDGE PORTION OF SAID CLAMP MEMBER TO SAID END OF THE BASE MEMBER WHEREBY SAID SECOND EDGE PORTION MAY BE SELECTIVELY MOVED FROM AND TOWARDS SAID BASE MEMBER, RESILIENT MEANS NORMALLY URGING SAID SECOND EDGE PORTION TOWARD SAID BASE MEMBER SO AS TO CLAMP PAPERS POSITIONED ON SAID BASE MEMBER, A SUBSTANTIALLY RIGID COVER MEMBER HAVING OPPOSED EDGES GENERALLY CONTERMINOUS WITH THE EDGES OF SAID BASE MEMBER AND AN UPPER END POSITIONED ADJACENT SAID SECOND EDGE PORTION OF SAID CLAMP MEMBER, MEANS PIVOTALLY CONNECTING SAID UPPER END OF THE COVER TO SAID SECOND EDGE OF THE CLAMP WHEREBY THE COVER MAY BE MOVED FROM A FIRST CLOSED POSITION OVERLYING SAID BASE MEMBER IN GENERALLY PARALLEL RELATION THERETO TO AN OPEN POSITION, CAM MEANS POSITIONED AT EACH END OF CLAMP MEMBER FOR SELECTIVELY RETAINING THE LATTER IN OPEN POSITION, AND MEANS OPERATIVELY CONNECTING SAID CAM MEANS WITH SAID COVER WHEREBY CLOSING OF THE LATTER WITH THE CLAMP IN AN OPEN POSITION WILL EFFECT A RELEASE OF SAID CAM MEANS AND A RETURN OF SAID CLAMP TO ITS CLOSED AND CLAMPING POSITION, SAID CAM MEANS EXTENDING UPWARDLY FROM SAID BASE MEMBER TO PROVIDE A LATERAL GUIDE FOR PAPERS INSERTED UNDER SAID CLAMP WHEN THE LATTER IS IN OPEN POSITION. 